Modifed baby bib having enhanced neckband

ABSTRACT

A modified baby bib for providing enhanced protection for a child&#39;s clothing while eating comprises a bib body shaped in a similar manner to conventional bibs but including two sleeve portions, two cap extension portions, an elasticized pocket, and an integrated neckband. The integrated sleeve portions extend down from the neck area and out from the side of each side of the bib body to cover the arms of the wearer. The cape extension portions extend from the sleeve portions around the back of the wearer to cover the shoulder and upper back of the wearer. The elasticized pocket, disposed at the bottom of the bib body enables the modified baby bib to catch food and drink which spills and slides down the bib body. The integrated neckband extends up from the neck portion of the bib body to absorb liquids which may run down the wearer&#39;s neck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to baby accessories and, more particularly, to a modified baby bib having a modified pocket at the bottom and a cloth neckband.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The transition from milk and/or formula to solid foods for babies or other young children can be quite a frustrating task for parents and/or care providers due to the tendency for such children to spill food while eating. The placement of garments, such as bibs, on a baby or young child while eating to protect underlying clothing from food or drinks which may be spilled is well known. Conventional bibs commonly fasten around the neck and extend over the chest area of a wearer to provide such protection. A problem which still exists, however, is that conventional bibs are unable to cover enough of the child's clothing to provide complete protection for it, often resulting in a child's clothing becoming soiled despite the presence of a bib. Thus, there remains a need for a modified baby bib which would provide additional coverage for the neck, torso, and arm area of a wearer. It would be helpful if such a modified baby bib employed an absorbent neckband which would prevent any food or drink from running down the neck of the wearer. It would be additionally desirable for the body of such a modified baby bib to be constructed of a light, waterproof material which routed spilt food and drink down the body thereof into an elasticized pocket.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a modified baby bib adapted to provide protection from spilt food and drink for the entire upper body of a wearer's front side. The primary components in Applicant's modified baby bib are a bib body, an integrated neckband, an elasticized pocket and a plurality of snap fasteners. When in operation, the modified baby bid enables more complete coverage of a wear's clothing and body to better prevent food and drink from soiling the clothing of a wearer. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A modified baby bib for providing enhanced protection for a child's clothing while eating by supplying more complete coverage. The modified baby bib comprises a bib body shaped in a similar manner to conventional bibs but including two sleeve portions, two cap extension portions, an elasticized pocket, an integrated neckband, and a plurality of snap fasteners. The integrated sleeve portions extend down from the neck area and out from the side of each side of the bib body to cover the arms of the wearer. The cape extension portions extend from the sleeve portions around the back of the wearer to cover the shoulder and upper back of the wearer. The elasticized pocket, disposed at the bottom of the bib body enables the modified baby bib to catch food and drink which spills and slides down the bib body. The integrated neckband extends up from the neck portion of the bib body to absorb liquids which may run down the wearer's neck. The snap fasteners enable securing of the modified bib body on the wearer and are arranged to ensure that in any configuration, the integrated neckband will still completely encircle the neck of the wearer.

It is an object of this invention to provide a need for a modified baby bib which would provide additional coverage for the neck, torso, and arm area of a wearer.

It is another object of this invention to provide a modified baby bib which employs an absorbent neckband which would prevent any food or drink from running down the neck of the wearer.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a modified baby bib constructed of a light, waterproof material which routed spilt food and drink down the body thereof into an elasticized pocket.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a modified baby bib built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of a modified baby bib built in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, a modified baby bib 100 is shown as a bib body 110 having two sleeve portions 111, two cap extension portions 112, an elasticized pocket 120, an integrated neckband 130, and a plurality of snap fasteners 140. The bib body 110 is shaped in a similar manner to conventional bibs but include the integrated sleeve portions 111 which extend down from the neck area and out from the side of each side of the bib body 110. Each sleeve portion 111 is sized to fit one arm of the wearer. The cape extension portions 112 each extend from one of said sleeve portions 111 around the back of the wearer. The sleeve portions 111 and cape portions 112, along with the bib body 110 are constructed of a waterproof material, defined as polyurethane laminate in the preferred embodiment. The modified baby bib 100 is able to provide waterproof coverage to not only the front of a wear, but also to the shoulder and upper back of the wearer.

Attached to the edge of each sleeve portion 111 is a strip of fold over elastic 113. The fold over elastic 113 enables the sleeve portion 111 to be rolled up and down as desired by the user.

The elasticized pocket 120 is disposed at the bottom of the bib body 110. The elasticized pocket 130 is primarily constructed of a waterproof material, defined as polyurethane laminate in the preferred embodiment. The elasticized pocket 120 additionally includes an elastic strip 121 along the exterior rim thereof, enabling the rim of the elasticized pocket 120 to be stretched open while in use.

The integrated neckband 130 is attached to the neck area of the bib body 110, extending up therefrom. By this design, the integrated neckband 130 is configured to cover the neck of a wearer when the modified bib 100 is in place on the wearer. The integrated neckband 130 is constructed of an absorbent material, defined as terry cloth in the preferred embodiment. The use of an absorbent material for the integrated neckband 130 provides enhanced comfort for a piece which will typically be against the skin of the wearer and enables the modified baby bib 100 to absorb liquids which may run down the wearer's neck.

Directly below the integrated neckband 130 on the wrap around, fastening end section 141 are the snap fasteners 140. As with conventional bibs employing snap fasteners, the snap fasteners 140 engage with a fastener base (not shown) disposed on the opposite fastening end of the bib body 110. The snap fasteners 140 are arranged so that if the snap fastener 140 for the smallest neck width, the middle neck with, or the largest neck width is used, the integrated neckband 130 will still completely encircle the neck of the wearer.

It is understood that a plurality of snap fasteners are employed so as to enable the neck area of the bib body 110, and thus the integrated neckband 130, to be sized on a wearer to be in contact with the neck of the wearer when in place on that wearer.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A modified baby bib having an enhanced neckband, comprising: a bib body sized to cover the front torso of a wearer; a sleeve portion extending from each side of the bib body; a pocket disposed on the lower area of the front side of the bib body; an integrated neckband extending up from the neck area of the bib body; at least one fastener disposed on said bib body, wherein said at least one fastener is adapted to enable the modified baby bib to be removably secured around the neck of a wearer with the integrated neckband in contact with and completely encircling the neck of the wearer.
 2. The modified baby bib of claim 1, wherein said bib body, sleeve portion, and pocket are constructed of a waterproof material.
 3. The modified baby bib of claim 2, wherein said bib body, sleeve portion, and pocket are constructed of polyurethane laminate.
 4. The modified baby bib of claim 1, wherein each of said sleeve portions include a strip of fold over elastic attached thereto.
 5. The modified baby bib of claim 1, wherein said pocket includes an elastic strip along at least a portion of its exterior rim.
 6. The modified baby bib of claim 1, wherein three snap fasteners are adapted to enable the modified baby bib to be removably secured around the neck of a wearer with the integrated neckband in contact with and completely encircling the neck of the wearer.
 7. The modified baby bib of claim 1, wherein the integrated neckband is constructed of an absorbent material.
 8. The modified baby bib of claim 1, wherein the integrated neckband is constructed of terry cloth.
 9. A modified baby bib having an enhanced neckband, comprising: a bib body constructed of polyurethane laminate and sized to cover the front torso of a wearer; a sleeve portion constructed of polyurethane laminate and extending from each side of the bib body, wherein each of said sleeve portions include a strip of fold over elastic attached thereto; a pocket constructed of polyurethane laminate and disposed on the lower area of the front side of the bib body, wherein said pocket includes an elastic strip along at least a portion of its exterior rim; an integrated neckband constructed of terry cloth and extending up from the neck area of the bib body; three snap fasteners disposed on said bib body, wherein said snap fasteners are adapted to enable the modified baby bib to be removably secured around the neck of a wearer with the integrated neckband in contact with and completely encircling the neck of the wearer. 